N4 · 40 words

Phone and internet

Calling, messaging, looking things up and the devices you do it all on.

Japanese likes to cut long loanwords down to three or four kana: a smartphone is スマホ, a personal computer パソコン. The native word for a mobile, 携帯(けいたい), simply means "carried about", and is still everywhere. A call is something you "hang" on someone — 電話(でんわ)をかける — and a call is answered with もしもし, which belongs to the phone and is hardly ever said face to face.

The words

Verb (8)

送るto sendVerbN4

旅行(りょこう)の写真(しゃしん)を友達(ともだち)に送(おく)りました。I sent the photos from the trip to a friend.

Also "to see someone home": 駅(えき)まで送(おく)ります.

調べるto look up; to checkVerbN4

分(わ)からない言葉(ことば)をネットで調(しら)べました。I looked up a word I didn't know online.

鳴るto ring; to soundVerbN4

会議中(かいぎちゅう)に携帯(けいたい)が鳴(な)りました。My mobile rang during the meeting.

つながるto get through; to be connectedVerbN3

電話(でんわ)がなかなかつながりません。I just can't get through.

通じるto get through; to be understoodVerbN3

山(やま)の中(なか)では電話(でんわ)が通(つう)じません。Phones don't work up in the mountains.

Also "to be understood": 英語(えいご)が通(つう)じる.

壊れるto break; to stop workingVerbN4

パソコンが壊(こわ)れて、困(こま)っています。My computer has broken and I'm stuck.

切れるto be cut off; to run outVerbN4

話(はな)している途中(とちゅう)で電話(でんわ)が切(き)れました。The call was cut off in the middle of our conversation.

Also of a battery running out: 電池(でんち)が切(き)れる.

掛け直すto call backVerbN3

今(いま)忙(いそが)しいので、後(あと)で掛(か)け直(なお)します。I'm busy right now, so I'll call you back later.

Often written かけ直(なお)す.

This list belongs to Technology, science and energy — eight lists and 321 words that can also be practised as a whole.

Practise this list

Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 40 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.